Mr Gray’s hands were covered in dirt and oil, a torch he had been using was still on and a cutting tool was gripping part the car’s exhaust.

Nearby were mole grips and a backpack containing spanners, cooking foil, a watch, and a bottle of methadone.

In a statement read out at Mr Gray’s inquest this week, Mr Fernandes said: “I arrived around 8am and I could see a pair of legs on the floor sticking out from under a car which had a black car-jack near the front wheel.

“I called my boss, told him what happened, and he told me to call an ambulance.”

Paramedics pronounced Mr Gray dead at the scene.

£60 re-sale value

Police later established that he had been trying to steal a catalytic converter, thought to have a re-sale value of around £60, from the vehicle,

JB Autos manager James Brown said: “There is a six-to-eight feet-high fence around each compound and I keep scrap cars for spare parts inside the second.

“Over the years I have had a number of thefts, so I keep the vehicles unlocked to stop people damaging them and smashing the windows before they realise there’s nothing valuable inside them.

“The vehicles are left in gear with the handbrake off to stop the brakes seizing.”

Fatal consequences

It is believed that this caused the car to move while Mr Gray was fiddling with the Vauxhall’s underside, with fatal consequences.

Sgt Scott Anger, who investigated Mr Gray’s death, said: “He was in the process of stealing a catalytic converter but his chest had been compressed.

“He had gained entry illegally overnight.

“This was not an industrial accident and was filed as a non-suspicious sudden death.

“The car jack had been dislodged.

“He had placed a wooden panel under him to prevent him lying on the cold ground.

“This raised his body closer to the car, which was left in neutral and would have rolled off the car jack because it was not secure.”

Serves the thieving bastard right,We do not go into business with all the risks and rules and regulations to have a worthless person like this effect our businesses,These type of people do not care what the effect of their thieving and damage does.

Here’s a thought in our present PC correct world!! Yawn!! how long before health and safety stick their ore in and take you to court for not leaving him the correct tools and safety equipment for him to correctly carry out what he was doing, or worse he may have cut his little finger climbing over the fence and sue you for damages unfortunately it’s not unheard of. Sorry I agree no sympathy you run the wire you take what comes unfortunately for him it was the ultimate price

these guys who steal from others are a drain our society causing us all countless pain and suffering from the financial loss they inflict. Like any job the one of thief has an associated job description within his it would have mentioned you will be beat up badly if caught, you may run risk of injury or death because you’re being an arse++++_

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